Noah’s POV:
I pulled up in front of The Silver Fork, the dim glow from the restaurant’s exterior lights reflecting off my car’s windshield. The place was as exclusive as rumored-chic, modern, and a hotspot for the city’s most prominent figures. I’d been to my fair share of fine dining spots, but this place was different.
I stepped out of the car, the cold air brushing against my face, as I walked toward the entrance. The doorman greeted me with a polite nod. Stepping inside, I made my way to the reception desk, where a young woman stood.
“Good evening, Sir.” She greeted me, scanning her tablet. “Do you have a reservation?”
“Yes, Noah Sylvester.” I replied, watching her eyes flick over the screen.
She glanced at me for a moment before tapping a few keys, then smiled up at me. “Yes, Mr. Sylvester, we have you down for Table 9 in the private dining area. Apologies for the delay. I’ll have my colleague escort you in.”
“No problem.”
She motioned to a man standing nearby, who gave me a slight bow before guiding me toward a corridor hidden from the main dining area. The dim, warm lighting in the hallway gave everything a sort of secretive feeling.
I followed the waiter down the hall, past a series of curtained-off areas where I could hear the murmurs of other diners behind the black foam-like coverings that blocked the view from the outside.
I guess privacy is a top priority here.
When we reached the end of the corridor, we stopped at a small door marked with a simple “9.” The waiter gave me a brief nod and opened the door, ushering me inside.
I walked in, my gaze immediately landing on Natasha, who was already seated at the table, with a glass of champagne in hand.
“Hey, Noah.” She said, her smile laced with something that I couldn’t quite place. She looked good as always. Her dress was elegant, and her makeup was flawless.
I nodded, walking over to take my seat. “Hey.”
The waiter bowed his head before stepping back and closing the door behind him.
“Your dinner will be served shortly.” He said before leaving the room.
The moment the door clicked shut, Natasha broke the silence. “You look good.” She said, smiling.
“Thank you.” I adjusted in my seat. “So, where’s the man who owns the Shanghai property?”
She shrugged, taking another sip of her champagne. “He called at the last minute and said he had to travel to Hong Kong for some work. But don’t worry, he said he’s still willing to sell the property to you. Since I referred you, he trusts my judgment a hundred percent.”
I nodded, trying to mask my disappointment. I’d hoped to meet with the seller in person, but business was business. “Okay. Thanks for handling it.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Of course. It was nothing.”
I took a deep breath, ready to get up and head home. But Natasha wasn’t done.
“Come on, Noah.” She said, leaning forward slightly, her voice almost pleading. “You’re already here. Have dinner with me. It’ll only be a little while.”
I opened my mouth to refuse, but something in her expression made me pause. “I really should be heading back.” I added.
“I helped you secure that property for your company’s branch in Shanghai.” She reminded me. “At least let me make it up to you by having dinner together.”
I didn’t want to, but I found myself nodding. “Alright. Just for a little while.”
Three waiters arrived at that moment, carrying a tray filled with several dishes. Then they placed the dishes in front of us.
I raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t order any of this.”
Natasha smirked, clearly pleased with my surprise. “At The Silver Fork, you don’t just reserve a table-you also reserve the meal. And you pay for it in full upfront.”
I blinked. “That’s… a bit…”
She shrugged casually. “You get what you pay for.”
As the waiter left, I took a little bite of the food. It was good-very good.
As we continued eating, Natasha started talking about college.
“Do you remember our college days?” She began. “There was this girl who had the biggest crush on you. She was crazy jealous, she actually went around bullying all the other girls to stay away from you.”
I smiled slightly, not sure where this was going. “Really?”
“Oh, yeah.” She said, her tone getting more excited. “And then there was another girl who lied and said that you two kissed. And yet another one who claimed that you were dating her.”
I raised my eyebrows, amused. “I don’t remember any of this.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t.” She said with a laugh, her eyes narrowing. “You were too busy being the best basketball player in college. And smart, too. It was unbelievable.” She paused for a moment before leaning in. “You were everyone’s favorite.”
I chuckled softly, shaking my head. “Honestly, I don’t remember much of that. It’s been a long time.”
She sighed, sitting back in her chair. “Well, I guess that’s what happens. Time makes everything blur.”
I glanced at my watch. “It’s getting pretty late. I should head home.”
She stood up to join me, but before she could even take a step, she wobbled and collapsed back into her seat. “I… I think I’m a little drunk.” She confessed, looking a bit embarrassed.
I frowned. “You can’t drive like this. I’ll help you hail a cab.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to bother you. Besides, I can’t trust a cab driver to not take advantage of me.”
Taking a deep breath. “I guess I will be taking you home, then.”
She didn’t argue, and I helped her put on her coat before escorting her to the parking lot. Once outside, I spoke briefly to the security guard, informing him to keep an eye on her car.
“Thank you.” She murmured as we walked toward my car.
Once we got inside, I drove her to her apartment, following her directions. When we arrived, I helped her out of the car and up to her apartment. She fumbled with her keys for a moment before unlocking the door.
“Thanks for bringing me here.” She said, slurring her words slightly.
“No problem.” I replied, making sure she was settled on the couch. I noticed the faint scent of alcohol on her breath, but it wasn’t overpowering.
As I tried to pull my hands from beneath her to leave, she suddenly threw up-right on me.
“Ugh!” I jumped back, trying to avoid the mess.
She sat up immediately, her face turning pale. “I’m so sorry, Noah! I didn’t mean to-”
I shook my head, not wanting to make her feel worse. “It’s okay,” I said. “Don’t worry about it.”
She handed me a hoodie from her closet and insisted I change. I took off my shirt, stuffed it into a nylon bag, and put on the hoodie she’d offered me.
“I’ll take it to the dry cleaners for you.” She offered.
“No need.” I replied, already on my way out. “I’ll be fine.”
After a brief farewell, I left her apartment, walking down the hallway to the elevator. As I reached the parking garage, I glanced around. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was following me.
I quickly got into my car and drove back home. When I arrived, I noticed the house was quiet-Mirabelle was asleep. So I went straight to the bathroom for a quick shower. Afterward, I slipped into my pajamas and climbed into bed beside her, pulling her into my arms.